By Matters India Reporter
Bengaluru, April 29, 2022: The debilitating impact of the pandemic on the marginalized was the focus of the annual meeting of Indian Catholic theologians.
The Indian Theological Association met April 26-29 at the National Biblical Catechetical and Liturgical Centre in Bengaluru, southern India, to address the theme “The Pandemic challenges to the Indian Church: A theological response.”
Around 40 members attended the 44th annual meet and conference that also focused on “theology in an endangered world” and the pandemic’s impact for the Indian Church.
It was the first time in four years that the association held its annual meeting with physical presence. Its past three meetings were held online because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
After analyzing the Covid situation from social and anthropological perspectives, the meeting examined the pandemic’s challenges from the biblical point of view.
The resource persons included noted Asian theologian Father Felix Wilfred, Sister Evelyn Monteiro of the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod, Jesuit social scientist Father Prakash Louis, Father Jacob Naluparayil of the Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, and Carmelites of Mary Immaculate Father Jacob Peenikaparambil.
The meeting also elected the association’s new office bearers: Jesuit Father A Alangaram is the new president, Sister Monteiro the vice-president, Jesuit Father Victor Edwin the secretary, and Carmelites of Mary Immaculate Father Rajesh Kavalackal the treasurer.
Other members in the executive committee are Astrid Lobo Gajiwala, a lay woman theologian, Fathers Paul Inje and Bilju Vazhappally and Jacob Parappally, a Fransalian.
Two books of the earlier conferences were released during the meeting — “Whither India? Theological Responses (edited by Raj Irudaya and Kochurani Abraham) and The Church in India Today: Credibility and Witness (edited by P.T. Mathew and Davis Varayilan).
The meeting ended with a renewed commitment to live the theological mission of the Indian Church prophetically and pastorally, in response to the challenges posed by the pandemic, said Kochurani Abraham.
The last paragraph of the write-up says, “The meeting ended with a renewed commitment to live the theological mission on the Indian church prophetically and pastorally…”
Presuming that a majority of these theologians teach in seminaries/formation houses, I wish raise a few questions:
1) Most of these theologians “express their dynamic and radical views courageously” during such meetings. But… when they return to their seminaries, hardly a handful of theologians speak the same views to the students. Others just keep quiet. Why?
2) These theologians become “DUMB” before their bishops/provincials. Why?
3) What happens to their “renewed commitment”? Does it remain only on papers?
4) How are they going to live the theological mission “prophetically”?
5) Most of the theologians teaching in major seminaries (there could be some exceptions) aim for “red cap” – i.e. bishop’s post. Last year two professors from St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute were appointed bishops in Tamil Nadu. How will they live the theological mission “pastorally” especially when they have very little pastoral experience and also due to their long confinement in the seminaries?
A lengthy report about the meeting. What did this august body have to say? Instead of discussing the pandemic (was it a theological or medical issue) they should have reflected on the ongoing synodal process.